Phalaenopsis orchid plant named ‘Miraculous’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Phalaenopsis  plant named ‘Miraculous’ particularly characterized by flowers which are white with purple stripes; the labellum is purple with some white and yellow; plants which may be propagated economically and uniformly using tissue culture; plants which produce more than one inflorescence; long and sturdy inflorescences; and relatively short, dark-green foliage.

Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed: Phalaenopsis hybrid.

Variety denomination: ‘Miraculous’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Phalaenopsis plant, botanically known as Phalaenopsis of the Orchidaceae family, and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Miraculous’.

Phalaenopsis comprises a genus of about 55 species of herbaceous perennials many of which, or the hybrids thereof, are suitable for cultivation in the home or greenhouse. Phalaenopsis is predominantly epiphytic or rock-dwelling, and is native to tropical Asia, the Malay Archipelago, and Oceania. The species typically has 2-ranked, fleshy, oblong or elliptic leaves affixed to a short central stem (monopodial growth), which vary in size from 5 to 8 inches to over 2 feet. The leaves may be entirely green or mottled with silver grey.

Phalaenopsis orchids, often referred to as ‘Moth Orchids’ in the horticultural trade, are frequently used to furnish cut flowers for the florist trade or sold as flowering potted-plants for home or interiorscape.

Phalaenopsis produces upright or pendent lateral racemes, often with many showy flowers which open in succession beginning with the lowermost. The flowers possess three sepals and three petals; the lateral ones being alike. The lowermost petal, called the labellum, is three-lobed and is often more brightly-colored than the other flower segments. Flower colors include various shades of pink, white, yellow and red-brown.

Phalaenopsis orchids are typically propagated from seeds. Asexual propagation of Phalaenopsis is often done from off-shoots which frequently arise from the lower bracts of the inflorescence. The resulting plants are detached from the mother plant and may be planted in a suitable substrate.

The new Phalaenopsis ‘Miraculous’ is a product of a controlled breeding program conducted by the inventors, René Schoone, in Strengweg, Heemskerk, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program was to develop a new Phalaenopsis cultivar particularly characterized by its attractive and unique colored flowers, economical propagation via tissue culture, rapid growth, and a plant dimension suitable for packaging and shipping to the market.

The new Phalaenopsis ‘Miraculous’ originated from a cross made by the inventor in 1999 in Strengweg, Heemskerk, The Netherlands. The female or seed parent is the Phalaenopsis cultivar designated ‘Sun Prince’, unpatented. The male or pollen parent is the Phalaenopsis cultivar designated ‘Super Stupid’, unpatented. The new Phalaenopsis ‘Miraculous’ was discovered and selected by the inventor as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross in a controlled environment in 2006 in Strengweg, Heemskerk, The Netherlands.

Asexual reproduction of the new Phalaenopsis cultivar by tissue culture was first performed in July, 2007 in Cieweg 13, Heemskerk, The Netherlands, and has demonstrated that the combination of characteristics as herein disclosed for the new cultivar are firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of asexual reproduction. The new cultivar asexually reproduces true-to-type.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be unique characteristics of ‘Miraculous’, which in combination distinguish this Phalaenopsis as a new and distinct cultivar:

-   -   1. flowers which are white with purple stripes; the labellum is         purple with some white and yellow;     -   2. plant produces more than one inflorescence;     -   3. plants may be propagated economically and uniformly using         tissue culture;     -   4. inflorescences are long and sturdy; and     -   5. relatively short, dark-green foliage.

In comparison with the parental cultivars of ‘Miraculous’, the female parent ‘Sun Prince’ has white colored flowers with purple/violet stripes, a red/purple labellum and a purple column. The male parent ‘Super Stupid’ has white colored flowers with purple spots, a red labellum and a white column, whereas the flowers of ‘Miraculous’ are white with red/purple stripes and spots, a purple labellum and a purple column.

Presently, the commercial cultivar to which ‘Miraculous’ can be meaningfully compared is ‘Sunrise Crystal’ (Patented, U.S. Pat. No. 20,199). The flowers of ‘Sunrise Crystal’ are white and slightly yellow, with purple stripes, the labellum is red/purple and the lateral sepals are light yellow. Whereas the flowers of ‘Miraculous’ are white and slightly pink, with red/purple stripes, the labellum is purple and the lateral sepals are white.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Phalaenopsis ‘Miraculous’ showing the colors as true as is reasonably possible with colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description, which accurately describe the color of ‘Miraculous’.

FIG. 1 shows a side view perspective of a typical flowering plant of ‘Miraculous’ in a 12 cm pot, at 16 months of age.

FIG. 2 shows a close-up view of a typical flower of ‘Miraculous’.

FIG. 3 shows a close-up view of the typical leaves of ‘Miraculous’

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new Phalaenopsis cultivar ‘Miraculous’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype of the new cultivar may vary with variations in environment such as temperature, light intensity, and day length without any change in the genotype of the plant.

The aforementioned photographs, together with the following observations, measurements and values describe plants of ‘Miraculous’ as grown in a greenhouse in Strengweg, Heemskerk, The Netherlands, under conditions which closely approximate those generally used in commercial practice. Initially, the ideal temperature to grow plants of ‘Miraculous’ is 27° C. during the day and at night. Then, during the flowering phase of ‘Miraculous’, the ideal growing temperature is 20-22° C. during the day and 18° C. at night. Light levels for growing ‘Miraculous’ are a minimum of 5,000 lux and a maximum of 10,000 lux. A balanced fertilizer with level of 200 ppm N, 87 ppm P, 168 ppm K is applied. Duration of growth of ‘Miraculous’ from potting size is between 10 and 14 months.

Color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart (R.H.S.), 2007 edition, except where general colors of ordinary significance are used. Color values were taken under daylight conditions at approximately noon in Zaandammerweg, Assendelft, The Netherlands. The age of the ‘Miraculous’ plants described is 12 months after potting.

-   Classification:     -   -   Botanical.—Phalaenopsis hybrid. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female or seed parent.—Phalaenopsis cultivar designated ‘Sun             Prince’, unpatented.         -   Male or pollen parent.—Phalaenopsis cultivar designated             ‘Super Stupid’, unpatented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—Tissue culture.         -   Rooting habit and description.—Fleshy; approximately 4 mm-7             mm wide and green in color (RHS 137A); freely branching. It             takes 12 weeks for plants growing in tissue culture to             initiate roots. -   Plant:     -   -   Size at maturity.—Height (from bottom of pot to highest             flower): about 63 to 68 cm. Spread: about 43 to 60 cm.         -   Growth habit.—Standard; yellow/green (RHS 147A) leaves and             relatively normal raceme.         -   Vigor.—Moderate.         -   Crop time.—Following asexual propagation, at about 26 weeks             2 leaves appear; at about 30 weeks 3-4 leaves appear; after             a cold treatment of about 4-8 weeks at a temperature of             about 19° C. about 2 racemes with flowers appear. -   Foliage:     -   -   Quantity per plant.—About 6 to 8 leaves are produced before             flowering.         -   Arrangement and attachment.—Half up/horizontal and on two             sides.         -   Overall shape of leaf.—Oval, tip is blunt and asymmetric.         -   Texture (both surfaces).—Smooth and leathery.         -   Pubescence.—None.         -   Leaf base.—Acute.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Mature leaf length.—About 14 to 19 cm.         -   Mature leaf width.—About 9 to 12 cm.         -   Mature leaf thickness.—About 1 to 2 mm.         -   Mature leaf color (upper surface).—Yellow/green (RHS 147A).         -   Mature leaf color (under surface).—Yellow/green (RHS 146B).         -   Venation.—Pattern: parallel. Color of midvein: upper             surface: yellow/green (RHS 147A). under surface:             yellow/green (RHS 146A). -   Raceme:     -   -   Quantity per plant.—About 1 to 3.         -   Number of flowers per raceme.—About 6 to 17.         -   Length.—About 54 to 68 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 3 to 5 mm.         -   Strength.—Strong.         -   Aspect.—Upright.         -   Texture.—Glabrous and smooth.         -   Color.—Green (RHS N137C).         -   Internode.—Length: about 27 to 50 mm. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   Appearance.—Upright to slightly pendant, racemose             inflorescence with bilaterally symmetrical flowers that open             in succession beginning with the lowermost flower.         -   Buds.—Height (from base to tip): about 15 mm to 25 mm.             Diameter (at midpoint): about 10 mm to 20 mm. Shape:             oval/egg-shaped. Color: yellow/green (RHS 145B).         -   Flowering time.—For an untreated plant (flowering plant that             has not undergone cold-treatment where the plant grows at a             temperature of 18° C. to 19° C. for about 4 to 8 weeks after             a period of about 30 weeks at a temperature of 25° C.), 2             racemes appear with about 16 to 20 flower buds and flowers             per inflorescence. First flowers can be expected             approximately 4 to 6 months after planting a plant with a             leaf diameter of 3 to 5 cm. Flowers persistent.         -   Flowering longevity.—On the plant: about 4 to 6 months;             lastingness of cut flowers: has not been observed.         -   Fragrance.—Fragrance.         -   Flower.—Rate of opening: Flowers fully opened about 2 to 3             days after petal and sepal separation. Orientation at             opening: slanted upward and outward. Shape: typical shape of             Phalaenopsis orchid; see FIG. 2. Size (of single bloom):             Height: about 50 mm. Diameter: about 60 mm. Depth of tube:             about 10 mm.         -   Petals.—Quantity and arrangement: three petals and three             sepals that are trimerous, overlapping and arranged in 2             whorls. Petals are more pronounced than sepals. Arrangement:             Inner whorl comprises 3 petals: 2 lateral petals and             labellum. 2 lateral petals: Overall shape: broadly ovate,             little bit triangular and weakly cupped. Apex: oval. Margin:             entire and weakly undulate. Base: broadly ovate. Length:             about 30 mm. Width: about 26 mm. Texture: Upper surface:             smooth and satiny. Under surface: smooth and satiny. Color             (when fully opened): upper surface: main color and edge are             white (RHS N155D), stripes are red/purple (RHS 72A), spots             and outer edges are red/purple (RHS 72B). Under surface: at             the base is RHS N47B, main color is white (RHS N155D),             stripes are purple (RHS 77A). Labellum: Overall shape:             3-lobed with 2 prominent callosities at central junction of             the lateral lobes and base of the midlobe. Lateral lobes of             labellum fold upward about the column; the midlobe extends             forward and is terminated by 2 filiform appendages at the             apex. Lateral lobes of the labellum are ovate in shape while             the midlobe is triangular with a bump and a rib on it.             Margin: entire and weakly undulate. Apex: oval. Length:             about 16 mm. Width (not flattened): about 16 mm. Texture:             Upper & under surface: smooth and satiny. Color (when fully             opened): Mid lobe, upper surface: purple (RHS N79C) with a             purple line in the center (RHS N79B). Under surface is             purple (RHS 77B) at the base and in the center. Main color             is purple (RHS N79C). Lateral lobes, upper surface: at the             base yellow (RHS 6B) and white (RHS NN155D) and purple             (N79C) which turns into purple (RHS N81B). Edges are yellow             (RHS 6B) and white (RHS NN155D). Under surface: white (RHS             N155B) and purple (RHS N81A) at the base. Edges are yellow             (RHS 6B) and white (RHS NN155D). Main color is purple (RHS             N81B). Cirrhi: short. Color: purple (RHS N79C) with white             tips (RHS NN155D). Pestle (Callosities): Length: About 3 mm.             Width (not flattened): about 3 mm. Color: at the base white             (RHS NN155D), on top and on front and back red/purple (RHS             61A) and grey/orange (RHS 163A).         -   Sepals.—Arrangement: Outer whorl comprises 3 sepals. Overall             shape: elliptical and weakly cupped. Margin: entire and             weakly undulate. Length: about 30 to 35 mm. Width: about 25             to 30 mm. Apex: oval; dorsal sepal has a small notch.             Texture: Upper & under surface: smooth and satiny. Color             (when fully opened): Dorsal sepal: main color and edges are             white (RHS N155D), stripes/spots are red/purple (RHS 72A),             base and spots are red/purple (RHS 72B). Under surface: main             color and edges are white (RHS N155D), stripes/spots are             purple (RHS 77A). Lateral sepal: main color and edges are             white (RHS N155D). Stripes and spots are red/purple (RHS             72A). The base and some spots are purple (RHS 72B). Under             surface: main color and edges are white (RHS N155C), spots             and stripes are purple (RHS 77A).         -   Pedicel.—Length: about 36 mm. Diameter: about 3 mm. Texture:             glabrous and smooth. Color: at the base green (RHS N137A) in             the middle yellow/green (RHS 146B) at the end white (RHS             N155C). -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Arrangement.—The stamens, style and stigmas are fused into a             single, short structure called the column, possessing one             terminal anther with pollen grains united into a pollinia,             which are covered by an anther cap. The stigma is located             under the column behind the pollinia. The ovary is inferior             with three carpels present. The plant has not produced seed.         -   Column.—Length: about 7 mm. Diameter: about 6 mm. Color:             Main color purple (RHS 77B), at the base red/purple (RHS             78A) and the tip and edges white (RHS N155C).         -   Pollinia.—Quantity: Two. Size: about 1 mm. Color:             yellow/orange (RHS 23A).         -   Ovary.—Length: about 4 mm. Diameter: about 5 mm. Color:             purple (RHS 76D). -   Disease/pest resistance/susceptibility: No specific resistance or     susceptibility observed. -   Temperature tolerance: Tolerant to a low temperature of about 15° C.     and to a high temperature about 30° C. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct Phalaenopsis plant named ‘Miraculous’, as illustrated and described herein. 